SBS 363 - Human Factors in Regulation

This course introduces students to classic and contemporary theory within psychology, sociology, anthropology and legal studies to understand why regulations exist and how human beings create, respond to, and navigate them. Students learn about core constructs that impact both individual and group-level (e.g., corporate) decision-making, and policy making. These include: neurocognitive and evolutionary processes; individual factors (e.g., need for control, reactance, psychopathy); group processes (e.g., in-group/out-group; groupthink; persuasion techniques); social factors (e.g., tragedy of the commons; nature of institutions and bureaucracies); and cultural factors (e.g., individualism versus collectivism, cross-cultural ethical/legal differences). Students learn to use these analytical frameworks to understand the role of poverty/affluence, education and governmental structure on how regulatory control is created and sustained within social systems.

Prerequisite(s): Any approved WRI2 course (may be concurrent), or non-degree students; OR permission.
Co-requisite(s):
Credits: 3

Meets the Following Core Requirement: Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship
Course Typically Offered:
Course Type: Social & Behavioral Sciences